The college experience is different for every student, but Azusa Pacific University prioritizes fostering a community on campus where all students can feel genuinely connected to their academics, extracurriculars, friends, and faith. Kinesiology and honors humanities double major Delaney Raetz ’27 was so positively influenced by the APU community connection in her freshman year that she has become more involved on campus in order to be a light of faith and friendship for others.
Raetz grew up in Nevada. Since she was six years old, she has been passionate about softball. “My first memories are of playing softball,” Raetz said. “It’s taught me so much about perseverance, time management, hard work, and how to get through difficult situations. It’s also a great way to build community.”
When she was 12, Raetz’s older sisters were researching higher education options and received college catalogs. Raetz opened one of them to a random page that happened to be about APU. She read that it was a NCAA Division II school with an honors program. Since then, Raetz said that God kept APU in her heart, and she knew she was being called to attend the university.
Going to college to continue playing softball was important to Raetz. She attended a softball camp at APU her junior year and was positive that this is where she would go to college. After attending another softball camp in her senior year, Raetz was convinced that her poor playing that day would prevent her from ever playing on APU’s team. She continued to apply to other colleges and had scouts come to watch her play. “Before I knew I was going to attend APU, I turned down some big Division II school offers,” Raetz said. “It was risky, but I felt so much peace with it.” She decided to commit to attending APU even without a spot on the team, but continued to reach out to the softball coach, Carrie Webber, who agreed to come and watch her play. “Usually athletes commit to a school at the beginning of senior year, but I was offered a spot on the team in July, just a month before school started.”
When Raetz finally reached her childhood dream of becoming an APU Cougar, she immediately
fell in love with the curriculum and community of the Honors College.
As Raetz’s freshman year came to an end, she was offered new opportunities to influence the campus culture that she enjoyed so much. “One of my anatomy professors asked if I would be a teacher’s assistant (TA), but I declined because I didn’t think I would have time,” she said. “Later, I received an email from Coba Canales, EdD. (Dean of Students) asking if I would be his TA.” Canales began teaching in the Honors College in fall 2023, and Raetz was one of his first students. After talking about the time commitment and workload involved, Raetz decided to take the position.
While she hadn’t originally sought out a TA position, Raetz felt called to apply to become a resident advisor (RA). She is currently an RA in Engstrom Hall, the dorm with the Honors College living learning community for freshmen. “I believe that an RA can influence a person’s college experience,” she said. “Being an RA is such a joy. I’m able to help others and be there for students. Being an out of state student, I don’t get to go home often, and I believe that it’s important for students to have somebody on campus that’s in their corner. I love knowing that I get to be that person for some people.” Raetz has a genuine care and passion for helping her residents to feel like they belong at APU.
Raetz’s work as a TA goes hand in hand with her service as an RA. “Being a TA has given me the opportunity to break the ice with some of my residents,” she said. “Visiting Canales’ freshmen colloquy has also been fun. I get to see what they’re reading and remember being in their shoes. It’s also been a testimony to the close knit nature of the Honors College realizing how everyone goes through the same curriculum and has similar discussions.”
Raetz’s sophomore year has only further proven to her that APU is where she is meant to be. The faith integration in all aspects of campus and academic life has deeply influenced her. “I feel so blessed to go to a school where my biology teacher prays for us before class,” she said. “Not many students elsewhere get to experience that. Being able to have conversations about Jesus, the Bible, or theology with my friends is really special. These become everyday conversations that prepare us for having challenging conversations in the real world.”
Faith is also integrated into Raetz’s athletic life. “You can tell how much coach Webber loves Jesus,” she said. “She doesn’t just care about us as players, but as people and young women of God. She is so spiritually strong, and I’ve never had a coach like her in my life where I can ask for prayers and she will immediately invite me into her office or home to talk about faith.” Raetz understands that the strong faith community her coach has fostered is special, and she constantly reminds herself not to take it for granted.
Unfortunately, Raetz suffered an injury that has prevented her from playing softball so far this semester. “It’s been challenging watching my teammates work so hard when all I can do is sit there and support them,” she said. “However, this has reminded me that everything happens for a reason. I don’t know how or why, but I believe that God will make something good out of this.”
Raetz has continued to grow in her faith during this time by attending the team’s weekly Bible studies, worshiping with her friends, and leaning into her involvement in the APU community.
After graduation, Raetz hopes to get involved in youth ministry. Despite her studies not focusing on ministry, she feels that the Lord has put a call to help others on her heart. “I have time to think and explore career options,” she said. “I was originally thinking about becoming a physician’s assistant within kinesiology, but I’m still figuring my calling out.” Raetz said that she feels she’s being prepared vocationally for ministry through the Honors College. The curriculum includes reading the Bible and diving into challenging theological conversations. “It’s important to acknowledge the bivocational aspect of different studies,” she said about faith being integrated into her majors. “I’ve grown so much spiritually since coming to APU, and being with people in different seasons of their faith is something that I think is important for myself and for a future career in youth ministry.”
Raetz encourages prospective students to learn about the familial community of APU for themselves. “Everyone talks about the APU community and how great it is, but it’s not just a selling point,” she said. “We were named the top Christian college in California for a reason. The university is genuinely centered around the love of Jesus which brings everyone together. I’ve never been happier. My heart is so filled and I feel fully connected to the Holy Spirit here. The beauty of the overall community and the Honors College have been so special and influential in my college experience.”